Best luxury hotels in Rio de Janeiro (and the ones to avoid)
There are many luxury hotels in Rio de Janeiro, and over the years I got to experience many of them. Every one of these 5-star hotels has its own charm while reflecting what makes Rio special: authentic culture, amazing views, and great food.
Here’s are the best hotels in Rio for a safe, relaxing, and well-catered trip!
Short on time? Here are the best luxury stays in Rio!
⭐️ Old-school glamour: Copacabana Palace Hotel
🏖️ Resort-style: Grand Hyatt
🧘♀️ Calming retreat: MGallery boutique hotel
🎷 Sexy vibes: Fasano
The absolute best: Copacabana Palace
The Copacabana Palace Hotel is known as the best luxury hotel in Rio de Janeiro, and features a Michelin-starred restaurant, an iconic pool, beach service, and much more!
The service in the hotel is flawless, which just complements the already luxurious feel from beautiful historic art deco design and the incredibly comfortable beds.
The hotel is so iconic that it is the favorite of celebrities, and recent guests include Lady Gaga and Madonna! The hotel is also known for hosting grand events, like the Vogue yearly gala.
The Copacaban Palace sets the bar high for 5-star hotels in Rio, and if you choose to stay there, you’re guaranteed the classiest experience!
Resort vibes: Grand Hyatt Barra da Tijuca
I headed to the Grand Hyatt Barra da Tijuca because I found a great deal booking with World of Hyatt loyalty points, but upon arrival I was so impressed I extended the stay for a few days!
The hotel really made me feel inside of a White Lotus episode!
The facilities have a bit of a beach resort style, which is quite unique in the context of Rio.
They have both family-friendly and adult-only pools, free childcare, beach access, and great restaurants. This is absolutely the best luxury hotel for families in Rio de Janeiro!
The cherry on top was the many free activities available, from boat tours in the local lake (where I saw capybara and caimans) to caipirinha-making classes!
Unfortunately, the staff does not do a great job of advertising these free activities, so make sure to specifically ask about them during check in!
This fantastic hotel is at Barra da Tijuca, which is a more secluded and much less touristy area. Barra is arguably the safest area to stay in Rio!
In all honesty, it is my favorite beach to stay in Rio because of the increased safety and the lack of tourists. All my favorite beach clubs and bars, like the Classico Downwind, are in Barra da Tijuca!
I love this luxury hotel so much that it is where I went for my bridal day and the first days of my honeymoon in Rio de Janeiro!
Any questions?
Ask all your questions in our Brazil travel Facebook group — we’ll be happy to help!
Upscale Zen: MGallery Hotel Santa Teresa
MGallery boutique hotel is a hidden gem in Rio!
Before going there, I didn’t know that any place in Rio de Janeiro could have such a relaxing zen vibe. The hotel truly is a nature-filled getaway inside the bustling city of Rio.
In fact, the MGallery location is conveniently central – close to Copacabana Beach, sights like Christ the Redeemer, and the Sapucaí (the venue where carnival parades are held)
Their Spa is flawless (probably the best in Rio), the restaurants have a sexy vibe and amazing food, and the pool overlooking the city is the cherry on top!
MGallery is the kind of place that inspires me to sit back, relax, and read a good Brazilian book.
Apart from the stunning view, I also absolutely loved the hotel’s interior design and architecture! It is very authentic as it draws inspiration from the building’s past as a coffee farm.
MGallery is a unique luxury experience in Rio, and truly deserves its #1 rank on my list of best places to stay in Santa Teresa.
Dreamy Rooftop Pool: Fasano Ipanema
Fasano is a 5-star hotel chain with units in the top cities in Brazil, and the Rio one is one of the best.
Located in Ipanema, the hotel features classy and moody bars, Rio’s most famous rooftop pool, and flawless service!
Some of my warmest bossa nova memories are from Fasano hotels, making it the best place to stay if you want to experience this old school fancy side of Rio.
Fasano is the best hotel in Ipanema, and there I do feel like the girl from Ipanema.
Luxury Hotels to Avoid in Rio de Janeiro
❌ Sheraton Grand Rio Hotel & Resort
I was excited to stay at the Sheraton Grand Rio for a resort-like stay, but I left incredibly disappointed!
The main drive of the hotel is the private beach, but upon arrival I realized that it isn’t really private as many of the residents of a nearby favela climb down natural barriers to access the beach.
In fact, the hotel is surrounded by favelas, making the location very inconvenient. The only way in and out is by car and Ubers from the nearby region are not the best.
Apart from the safety aspect not being great on the “private” beach and surrounding the hotel grounds, I found the food in the hotel restaurants very mediocre and overpriced.
The hotel infrastructure is okay, but the interior design is very dated.
If you’re looking for a beachfront resort-like getaway in Rio, I recommend heading to the Copacabana Palace or the Grand Hyatt.
❌ JW Marriott Copacabana
I booked the JW Marriott in Copacabana for my parents on January 1st for them to start the year feeling great, but unfortunately they left quite disappointed!
They claimed that the hotel grounds were very dated, that breakfast was weak, and that the common areas were dirty because of the new year festivities.
Now, when booking luxury hotels in Rio, I always avoid the JW Marriott.
The wrapup: Best luxury hotels in Rio de Janeiro
At the end of the day, Rio has no shortage of incredible hotels!
You’re guaranteed a good experience no matter if you opt for old-school glamour at Copacabana Palace Hotel, a resort-like stay at the Grand Hyatt, a calming retreat at MGallery boutique hotel, or the bossa nova vibes at Fasano.
Planning a trip to Rio? Don’t miss our other helpful guides:
✅ The 6 Best and Safest Areas to Stay in Rio de Janeiro
✅ Payments and Cash in Brazil: A Complete Guide for Travelers
✅ Is Brazil safe? A travel safety guide
✅ 5 Best Places to Stay in Santa Teresa, Rio de Janeiro
✅ Best books about Brazil: top 3 books to read before traveling
Any questions?
Ask all your questions in our Brazil travel Facebook group — we’ll be happy to help!
